Graco Argos Review

We got our Argos shortly after my daughter turned forward facing right around her fourth birthday. I had seen it at the store and was instantly drawn to the pretty flower pattern. It was a big bonus that it fit her well and she liked it, too!

We’d had Graco’s very similar seat: a Nautilus, but I prefer a no-rethread harness. This means that as the child grows or another child rides in the seat, you just push a button on the seat to move the harness up or down.

There are a few seats in the Graco Nautilus/Argos family, our handy chart lists the differences between each model.

The Graco Argos is a is a solid choice for a child who is at least two years old and has outgrown their rear facing convertible car seat. The Argos is forward facing only, and has three modes:

CSFTL Quick Stats

Forward facing weight range: 20-65 lbs

Forward facing height range: 27”- 52″

High back booster weight range: 30-100 lbs

High back booster height range: 38-57″

Backless booster weight range: 40-120 lbs

Backless booster height range: 40-57”

Highest harness position: 18”

Highest booster guide position: 19.5″

Expiration: 10 years

Lower anchor weight limit: 45 lbs

Features

Adjustable crotch strap

Body support cushion

No re-thread harness

Allows use of lower anchors in booster mode

Cupholder and cubby holes

Graco Argos- 3.5 years old, 37 lbs, 39 inches

Mode 1: 5 Point Harness

Weight range: 20-65 lbs

18″ top harness position

No re-thread harness allows for quick height adjustment up or down without uninstalling the seat

The Argos has a 10 year expiration whether using in harness or booster mode, and generally lasts most kids until 6-7 years old in harness mode, 7-8 years old in high back booster mode, and through passing the 5 step test in backless booster mode. The main differences from the Graco Nautilus to the Argos are the no re-thread harness, and an additional 10 lbs on the backless booster weight limit.

Like any seat, there are a few drawbacks:

Some children have trouble sleeping comfortably in the Argos, as it doesn’t have great head support for a car sleeper. Many children experience “head slump”, despite the Argos’ recline feature. This isn’t a safety concern, but it can be a comfort concern for some children.

Converting the Argos from harnessed mode to booster mode can be tricky — you have to remove the cover via series of tiny elastic loops and hook fasteners, grab and slide two red levers, then once the seat can lay flat, pinch a rather stiff connector until the seat releases. At that point, lift the seat’s back at *just* the right angle to remove it, then re-attach all of those little elastic hooks on the cover.

Converting the Argos to a booster is the same process as it is for the Nautilus. Our handy guide walks through the steps involved in this conversion.

The outer crotch buckle position is fairly shallow and it can be uncomfortable for some bigger children.

Our 7-year-old tester found the backless booster uncomfortable because once the back is removed, it leaves quite a gap between the vehicle seat back and the start of the Argos’ seat cushion.

At 9 years old, that same model found the backless version of this seat a very comfortable option.

Overall, despite some minor drawbacks, the Argos is an excellent choice for preschoolers on up. You can find it on Amazon.com. My oldest daughter rode in the Argos harnessed until she outgrew it by height when she was almost 7. Today, her little sister rides in it harnessed or it works in my Mazda 5’s third row as a high back booster.

Related

Donate

CSFTL is staffed entirely by volunteers - please consider supporting us. Even a few dollars can go a long way! Car Seats for the Littles Inc does not solicit charitable contributions from donors who are residents of Florida, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Shop at Amazon

Car Seats for the Littles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer

All CSFTL website contributors are Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. However, our reviews and educational materials are OUR opinions and are not that of Safe Kids, NHTSA, or anyone other than us. We are not liable for anything anyone says or does as a result of reading our opinions on this site.

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email.